Military's internal debate on use of Special Ops

via Hugh Hewitt.

We've got a lot of trained people who are champing at the bit to put that training to use against terrorists. It's an interesting issue, especially when we need to cut costs, but it could blow back big time if the hunter-killers act on reliable intel that turns out to be bad.

The troops in the Battle in Mogadishu portrayed in "Blackhawk Down" were highly trained and heroic beyond belief, but it turned out badly. On the other hand, this is a war, and we can't always have the security of knowing that we know what's waiting for us. It would be much easier if the people would give the president a firm, unmistakable mandate, but it won't be given via our mass media.

My own predilection would be counterinsurgency, yes; snatches, yes; but go slow on the assassinations. Remember the empty bag in Baghdad on the opening day of the war and the number of body parts found in the crater. If you kill somebody, he or she will have to be identified, and you'd better be sure it was the right target and there was no other way. I think we passed that test with Uday and Qusay, because they fought back. Notice that their father was smarter than that.

Of course, if you kill the bad guy, you don't have to deal with demands that he be tried in an international court.